BRAVE!

Anxiety and depression have become prevalent amongst my friends and family. Maybe its always been there but I have found as I get older it has been more paralyzing for some. Schools used to have one social worker or nurse per school. My kids' schools have one social worker who splits his time among two other schools. So, one social worker has three schools! Because of this it leaves more for the the children and parents to figure out on their own. Its not always easy to figure it out especially when you are in the midst of it.

Our family has used counselors to help us through the times it was hard and we were stuck. Recently, we looked to our school social worker to help out June. After meeting with her social worker a few times we could tell a light bulb had gone off and she was given tools to help her move on. She will continue to touch base with him for another year and I am truly grateful.

One song that June loves and sings often on full blast is a song called Brave by Sarah Bareillles. Take a listen. You'll want to brave too after singing it!

Below is an article June and I wrote for her school newsletter that was published today. June wanted to be BRAVE and share with others her story so she can maybe help another child like her.

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At an early age my daughter, June, had a harder time leaving me when placed in group settings. Mornings were rough and she would do everything not to get ready for school. Drop offs were miserable for both of us because it was heart wrenching to see her so sad for me to leave. She would cling to me.

This year started off strong for her but then her Dad and I went away for two nights and when we came back she was having hard time again. She was feeling sick in school and al- ways felt sick to her stomach before school. After her calling me three Thursdays in a row after lunch stating she was sick, I noticed a pattern. June wants you to know that she really felt sick and didn't realize it was anxiety that was bothering her.

It was so hard to get her to school because she felt so sick it had me in tears. We decided to ask for help from Mr.
McNeilly, our school social worker. Mr. McNeilly seemed to know exactly how June was feeling and taught June about the roller coaster effect she may feeling. He drew a picture of a roller coaster and explained that when she was with me she felt calm but as the day ramped up she was climbing to the top of the roller coaster. If she pushed through those feelings she would even- tually come back down to the calmness. June took that drawing and hung it up in her bedroom and began to share how she felt.

June's drawing of her roller coaster

We found comfort items for her such as a necklace, a scent of oils she liked to put on her wrist, special hugs and kisses before school and she is now on her way. Last week she saw Mr. McNeilly in the hallway and told him she had made it the whole month without calling me! She was sure to share that with our family as well.

Mr. McNeilly is present in three schools right now. Way too much for one person! I share this story not to put more on him but to share on educating our children about their feelings really does help. Sometimes we don't always know what will click with our child so getting help from an outside perspective can really change things. June wants you to know that she is now setting goals to help her through her roller coaster of feelings of anxiety.

June really wants to help others who have felt like her. We found this video and we think it may help some kids. Please share this with your child if they have feelings like June. If we think of more ideas we will share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7g8Atv27Q8